Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-16

sent the clouds or waves, from which the |
round disk of the polished mirror seems |
to rise like the sun. In the purest shrines
these emblems are exposed but once a
wear. The fact of their being exposed
continually in some of the shrines which
have been corrupted by contact with
Buddhism has given rise to the pretty
idea that they are the
EMBLENIs OF EXPERIMENTATION,
Which is doubtful, where the man can
look into face, the Utmost thoughts of
which he knows. One can imagine that a
criminal must be very hardened to be able
to do this amid the solemn stiffness of the
grove-encircled temples and not repent.
One can imagine, too, that a pretty girl
must be very devout to be able 10 gaze
long into the truthful depths without
pashing in place some stray lock of hair
or rearranging her jeweled hairpin. The
mirrors are of NEST wonderful clearness,
but are sensitive to atmospheric changes,
| and dampness makes them cloudy. There
are nearly 1000 gods accepted in Shinto
which have shrines, and there are 10000
more which are without a special place
dedicated to them. Before the temples, or
| about some tree in the grounds, is sure to
be found straw rope, which wards off evil
( influences.
Tori are the most beautiful erections
found in Japan, and is OF Shinto origin,
being foRnd before every temple. The
name means "bird rest" and is said to
have been raised for the sacred birds; but
this, Ike everything else, is denied by
many 1t is an arch, the uprights being
tree trunks, or their likeness with a cross
niece of the same, slightly curved upward
at the ends. Below the upper piece is q
second, and between these two have been
placed the tablets bearing the names Of
gods in such temples as have been in Bud.
3hist hands.
THE sHINTo PRIEST,
If priest he may be called, is not looked
| upon as holy man simply as the keeper
of a temple-a sort of elevated janitor He
marries, and has his lay business. Sim
plicity-a virtue itself-is not virtue
when it is Shinto simplicity, for then it i,
barren simplicity, it is neither good nor
| bad.
The Christian missionaries of Protestant
sects gain most of their converts among
these Shintoist, and they tell me it is a
belief to be admired above Buddhism.
do not agree at all with them their reason
is.a very ignoble one, and is very much as
if were to say | admired dog because
! could whip him easily, and despised a
lion because he had some chance of whip
ping me- Buddhism in its usual comprehen-
sion | will say little Itwith Shinto is diving
or dead, but from it has started living
tree which bids fair to be eternal; it is
THE MONTE SECT OF THE BUDDHIsTs.
Let the people at home who have taken
upon them the task Of coping with this
army of Great Buddha, bear in mind that
the priests of the Monte sect are men edu-
Gated in our schools, knowing our faults a.
well as virtues; men ready in argument
logical, polite, understanding human ma
ture men of the present who do not look
upon Japan as the whole world, whose
minds are clear and free from superstition
To cope with these, it is not wise to send
boys and girls who have scarcely been be.
yond the limits of their little country
town, who are biased in their opinions and
rush wildly against the well-prepared de.
lenses, doing damage to nothing but their
own cause. They say that they were
called" but would it not be well for
them to remember that good little Samuel
was called more than once He waited to
make sure from whence the voice came
| The Roman Catholics understand their DO
sition, and send only men and women who
have been tried and proved to be strong
the Church of England has done the same,
but generally the others ranks are filled
by people good, honest true enough, / do
not doubt, but more than useless.
a BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Is realized dream of beauty; the rich
colors, the gold, the symbols and lights all
appeal to the heart through the senses.
The Monte sect has gone further; the
! richness and warmth are there. but the
light of education is shining over all.
Monte priests may marry, and their sons
inherit the priestly robe. They do not be-
lieve in fasts, nor making pilgrimages, nor
in monastic life; they teach that the
home is the place of all places for man to
learn virtue. They read the Buddhist
Scriptures in the native tongue, and are
ready to explain all their actions. One OF
these Monte priests made this true remark
speaking to a European THE exact words
escape me): You will not have to fight
Shinto or Buddhism among the higher
classes, but
! FIGHT YOUR OWN PHILOSOPHY OF NATE
RIALIsM,
Which is the common enemy of both Bud
dhism and Christianity" They see us bet
ter than we see ourselves, for we stand be-
fore them as we are, without the light of
| the past or of tradition which makes<ls too
often blind TO the fallacies which we see
SO readily in Others. Yes, the Monto-
Buddhism and Christianity may go hand
IN hand in the common war against mate
rialism. The moral teaching of both reli-
gions is good-indeed, it is the same-and
they both offer Immortality.
Let us work together for good in this
life and wait for eternity to clear orr
doubts and show us all face to face. The
true Christian believes the same men shall
join in praises; together have they bowed
IN silence before the great Buddha or
prayed aloud before the cross. Let us
never raise as war cry, "Christ hear us p
against the prayer of our friends, "Namu
Amida Butsu~ but join in the war against
materlalism. CHAs. A. GUNNIsoS.
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Distinction VS.. Deterioration,
1t has often been pointed out that de.
L..